Once upon a time, the wife of a young politician who was sweeping the country with his vision of a different America united against a failing Bush administration visited Ohio University. This is a story of one OU alumnus (me) who in 1992 joined thousands of people in front of the old Baker Center to hear why an upstart, long shot candidate from Arkansas just might change the world as we know it.
My purpose for writing is to say that the woman who spoke on that day, Hillary Clinton, was the real deal. Anyone who was there and paying attention could see it. At one time, not so long ago, Hillary and Bill were the people who embodied change, a hope for a better post-Bush presidency.
I would like to encourage readers to look beyond the rhetoric and punditry and consider the fact that while Hillary can't be the new voice for change and hope, she has been the consistent voice for change and hope. As I look at our world, I can't help but believe that if you have stood for change, hope and unity your entire public life and you have committed your energy toward making a real impact then you deserve not to be dismissed. If the price of unity is a watered-down version of what is best for America, then maybe unity isn't what I want ' or what America needs. If she is not our candidate, the Republicans may still not win the election, but they will have succeeded in demonizing a person who just may be an even better president than her husband. Don't let that happen at OU ' vote for Hillary!
Erik Burmeister is a 1995 and 1996 graduate of Ohio University.
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Letter to the Editor
